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History & Heritage
Iraq's past is long even by the standards of the Middle East. These articles cover the first cities of Sumer, Babylon and Ur, Abbasid Baghdad and the communities that carried old traditions into the present.
Mesopotamia: Where the First Cities Began
Long before Baghdad, the plains between the Tigris and the Euphrates produced the first true cities, the first writing and a calendar of ideas we still use.
Babylon: Visiting Iraq's Most Famous Ancient City
Babylon is a name almost everyone knows. Here is what actually survives on the banks of the Euphrates, and why the site joined the World Heritage List in 2019.
The Ziggurat of Ur and the Royal Tombs
Rising out of the desert near Nasiriyah, the Ziggurat of Ur is the best-preserved temple tower of ancient Mesopotamia and the gateway to one of archaeology's great discoveries.
Baghdad's House of Wisdom and the Abbasid Golden Age
For several centuries Abbasid Baghdad was one of the great centres of learning in the world. What was the House of Wisdom, and what survives from that age?
The Mandaeans: One of Iraq's Oldest Faith Communities
The Mandaeans have lived beside the rivers of southern Iraq and south-western Iran for many centuries. A short, respectful introduction to their faith and traditions.